After the storm

NZ has just been on the receiving end of a doozy combination of weather systems courtesy of the deep (Antarctic) south. It combined with a full perigee moon to deliver the worst storm in decades.

Wellington got pummelled. Our immediate suburb wasn’t impacted too badly, just a few downed branches and collapsed fences it seemed. Power was cut to thousands of homes across the city and we thought we got off very lightly when we made it through Thursday night with our electricity intact.

However, the following afternoon it got cut. We’ve just had our fourth night without power and could be in for another few chilly days. I prepared most of this post at our local pub!

Our situation is better than those whose homes bore the brunt of the severe gales, especially along the south coast where they had the double whammy of the high tide which delivered waves and debris up and over the road, into garages and houses.

Over the course of the weekend we took in parts of the storm-affected city.

It soon became apparent that the boat sheds did not fare very well at all

For me the boat sheds were the saddest outcome of the storm. These few small structures are treasured icons from earlier times and despite standing for many decades, this weather was the undoing of them. Hopefully the owners can (and are permitted to) repair them.

The fence line is a good gauge of the sand dune decimation at Worser Bay

At Seatoun it’s a bit hard to tell where the beach stops and the road starts

Breaker Bay was still getting a good lashing on Saturday

At some point rope had been used to help secure this poor boat shed

Boat shed at Breaker Bay (weather returning to normal by this time!)

Also at Breaker Bay

On the other side of town at Lowry Bay, and around further toward Eastbourne, waves washed onto the road

We went to Mike’s mum and dad’s place for Saturday night to find the driveway covered in tree debris. At least it wasn’t whole trees

Looking across to downtown Wellington on Sunday morning

Boats blown off their trailers at Seaview Marina

Debris at the side of the road on the Petone foreshore

Repairs underway to the main railway link between the Hutt Valley and Wellington City – trains are cancelled for a week or so

Looking across to the top of the South Island (yes it would seem they did have a bit of snow)

Sand bags were used at the Island Bay Surf Club

A big chunk of the sea wall at Island Bay was destroyed

Debris from the ocean either washed up here or was forced here by the huge winds

Related

Great photos Ley – gives a better coverage than I saw on TV. Sad – but incredible that all people apparently escaped physically unscathed. Umm… there is a likeness to Gran in the last photo – or maybe Aunty Mil!!

Postscript: electricity was restored to our place after seven nights. Aspects of the process and communication were shambolic and there will be some big learnings for the companies involved and city generally in how to deal with destructive events, but we got there!

Wow, Hayley…what destruction. Yikes! I’m glad you guys are okay. By the way, I’m glad to see that while you’re bundled up like a nana with no power, you seem to have a beer to swill in the meantime???? 🙂

Absolutely, and our alcohol consumption most definitely went up that week because we were either eating our or going round to friends and family for dinner. People reaching out with offers of help was a really nice aspect of that whole experience.

Hi…

I'm Hayley and I live in the beautiful city of Wellington NZ. Outside of my work as an IT programme manager I love to travel and exercise my creativity. This blog is a photo journal of my travel experiences, the big stuff and the small. Thanks for visiting!